Top 10 Countries That Offer Free Scholarships To Nigerian Students
Acquiring foreign education is the dream of numerous Nigerian students, as it offers more exposure and opportunities than traditional Nigerian Universities. However, one of the most common stumbling blocks that arises in the process of trying to achieve this dream is the problem of finance. Thanks to a lot of factors including the dollar-Naira exchange rate, acquiring foreign education in other parts of the world appears to cost a fortune and is practically impossible for the average Nigerian. However contrary to this popular belief, numerous countries around the world offer Free Scholarship opportunities to Nigerian Students and today we shall be considering 10 of them.
These countries offer these scholarship opportunities as they consider education an investment to attract academic talents from developing nations into their country, to maintain their present stage of development, and to be on the frontline of future groundbreaking endeavors. Unfortunately, the average Nigerian is not aware of these opportunities, hence they are unable to take advantage of them. So, for the sake of posterity and without any further ado, here are 10 countries that offer free scholarships to Nigerian Students.
1. Germany
Central European country, Germany is one of the few countries that offers free scholarship opportunities to Nigerian Students at no cost. This is because there are no tuition fees for graduate and undergraduate students at public universities in Germany, for both German students and international students, regardless of nationality.
According to a report the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD: Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) provides financial support to over 120,000 highly-qualified international students every year, to live and study in Germany for free or at a more affordable cost. These scholarships are open to international students of all levels.
2. Norway
Just like in many countries on this list, higher and tertiary education is generally free in Norway for domestic and international students irrespective of Nationality. According to the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, students at state universities and university colleges in Norway do not pay tuition fees, regardless of the program.
However, the majority of undergraduate programs in Norwegian Universities are taught only in Norwegian, and international students need to demonstrate proof of proficiency in Norwegian to study at this level. At master’s and PhD levels, English language programs are far more common, and free tuition still applies.
3. Canada
Unlike in Germany and Norway, tuition fees for students are not free in Canada. However, the Canadian government and many Canadian universities offer free fully funded scholarships to international students, including Nigerians. Some of these scholarships include the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program, Ontario Graduate Scholarship, and many others
According to unverified reports, Universities like Concordia University, University Of British Columbia, University Of Manitoba, and Simon Fraser University are rumored to be tuition-free Universities for international students. Additionally, the university's programs are also structured to favor those who want to study and work at the same time.
4. Iceland
The European Island Country, Iceland is one of the few countries that offers free scholarship opportunities to Nigerian Students at no cost. Like most of its fellow Nordic countries, Iceland offers free tuition fees at public universities. However, students have to pay a non-refundable ‘application fee’. The cost of the application fee is often between 250 to 650 euros.
Also, the Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science and Culture awards annually several special scholarships to foreign and international students for the study of the Icelandic language, literature, and history at the University of Iceland, Reykjavík.
5. France
France Colleges are free for EU and EEA students who are studying at government-funded public institutions of higher education. However international students from other continents rather than the EU, pay a subsidized fee for higher education. There are also reports of certain public universities that offer tuition-free opportunities for international students.
Also, the French Government, the Embassy, and Universities offer fully-funded scholarships for Nigerian students to study in France at the graduate and undergraduate level. Examples of such scholarships include the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship, the Dauphine Foundation Scholarship for Master's Research, and Merit-Based Scholarships for Non-EU Students.
6. Finland
READ ALSO » Top 8 Best Nigerian Scholarships For Nigerian Students
Finland's university education is entirely state-funded, even for international students including Nigerians. The International students who enroll in programs taught in Finnish don't pay tuition fees, but those who study English-taught degrees pay a little subsidized fee and some masters courses charge fees to non-EU/EEA students.
However, it is imperative to note that there are unverified reports of the Finnish government introducing subsidized tuition fees for non-EU students. According to the report, Only Doctoral level studies will remain free of tuition fees, regardless of your nationality and the extent of the said fees depends on the level of the program.
7. Denmark
Higher education in Denmark is free for students from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. Non-EU/EEA students pay subsidized tuition fees. However, the Danish government and institutions provide fully funded scholarships for international students from countries including Nigeria to attract excellent non-EU/EEA students.
Some of the available scholarships include Danish government scholarships for highly qualified non-EU/EEA students, the Danish State Educational Support, Fulbright Denmark, Erasmus Mundus/Joint Master Degree among others
8. Sweden
Sweden is one of the top European countries that offers free education options for international students. However, only EU citizens and those with a permanent Swedish residence permit are currently eligible for free education. Other students may have to pay subsidized tuition fees that range from 80,000 to 140,000 SEK per year.
However, the Swedish government provides fully funded scholarships for international students from countries including Nigeria to attract excellent non-EU/EEA students. Examples of such scholarships include Karolinska Institutet scholarships among others. It is important to note that A PhD in Sweden is free for all students, regardless of nationality.
9. China
The People's Republic of China is one of the few Asian countries that offers free scholarship opportunities to Nigerian Students at no cost. According to popular reports, the East Asian Country recently invented Nigerians to apply for their fully funded scholarships that require no tuition fees and offer free accommodation.
According to Chineseadmissions.com, as of 2019, over 6,000 Nigerian students are studying in China and 512 of them are on Chinese Government Scholarships. Examples of such Scholarships include the Confucius Institute Scholarship, Jiangsu Government Scholarship, and Shanghai Government Scholarship among others
10. Australia
Rounding off the list of countries that offer free scholarship opportunities to Nigerian Students is the Oceanic country, Australia. Unlike other countries that offer free or subsidized tuition fees, Australia offers numerous scholarship programs that offer long-term scholarships to Nigerian students at undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD levels.
READ ALSO » Top Scholarships For Nigerian Students To Study Abroad
These scholarships cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other benefits, providing comprehensive support for Nigerian students to study in Australia. Examples include Australia Awards Scholarships, Endeavor Postgraduate Scholarship Awards, and Chevening Scholarships among others.
Conclusion
While this list is compiled based on accurate and present information, it is important to note that scholarship offerings and policies can change, so it's essential to verify the latest information from reliable sources. It is also crucial to research specific scholarship programs, eligibility criteria, and application processes before applying. Visit TGNNEWS.com For reliable and verified scholarship opportunities
